Ceremony celebrates 10th anniversary of Railroad Green Park
WARWICK On Friday, June 8, Village of Warwick officials, members of the Warwick Valley Gardeners and other distinguished guests gathered at Railroad Green to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Village Park. It was also an occasion to honor the Warwick Valley Gardeners on its 20th anniversary and call attention to the organizations major contributions to the beautification of Railroad Green and the Village of Warwick.
Mayor Michael Newhard and Jane Madis, president of the Warwick Gardeners, shared the stage as masters of ceremony.
There is hardly a month that goes by that I dont receive an inquiry, photograph or comment on the success of our Railroad Green as a vibrant, urban space, said Mayor Newhard. In planning lingo its called place making. And today the renewed place is 10 years old.
Convergence of efforts Newhard told his audience how in the 1960s Ed Klein, then owner and publisher of The Warwick Advertiser, learned that Village Officials were planning to turn this plot into a parking lot.
Klein printed a front-page article that got everyones attention and stopped the plan in its tracks, said Newhard.
Around the same time, he added, Dave Brandt, a young architect, wrote his thesis on redesigning a historic downtown. And, under the leadership of Dorothy Sanford, Elizabeth Van Leer and Frances Bradner, a volunteer effort preserved the park.
Until the late 1990s Jim and Gayle Tunnel owned the park and Railroad Building and leased the grassy area to the Village for $1 a year.
In 2000, the Park and Railroad building was listed for sale.
Mayor Anthony Portelli and his board recognized the importance of village ownership, especially since the park under private ownership could be developed or become a parking lot.
The Tunnels agreed to subdivide the property and in 2002, the redevelopment of the Railroad Green as we know it today began.
Newhard credited the individuals and organizations who helped make it possible including the Chamber of Commerce, which donated $10,000, the Savings Bank Foundation $10,000, the Warwick Conservancy $12,700, MJJ Construction $1,000, Mrs. Renfrew Brander $1,000, The Warwick Historical Society $14,000, the Town of Warwick, and the Village of Warwick along with numerous contributions from ordinary citizens.
Once the Park was purchased, came the new hurtle of what to do next, said Newhard. It was my first term as mayor and the board and I made a commitment to restore the park - to give it attention and the new life it needed as a public space.
The rebuilding was completed the following year, just in time for Warwick to win the national Community in Bloom award.
Honored guests and contributors
Members of the Warwick Valley Gardeners had contributed $5,000 for the project and worked with landscape architect Ken Druse.
Dr. Richard Hull, official Town of Warwick Historian, spoke about the history of Railroad Green from its earliest days next to a trail used by Native Americans traveling along Wawayanda Creek to its current development.
Their trail, explained Hull, became the Bellvale-Monroe Turnpike, a route to Ramapo Path, now Route 17.
Hull mentioned an interesting bit of history when in the 1890s, long after the railroad arrived and about the time the new railroad station was completed, Barney Diffily, a native of Ireland, became the gatekeeper at the Main Street railroad crossing.
With lots of time on his hands, he decided to build a garden and the current site of Railroad Green became known in those days as Diffily Park.
Hull attributed much of the development of the park to cooperation between public and private sectors.
During the ceremony Newhard praised Ed Klein, whose daughter Pip was present, for raising public awareness to save the park. He also praised Bill Iurato, who was a village trustee charged with overseeing the development of the park.
Iurato created the free concert series in the park that residents enjoy today. A Dogwood tree has been planted in his honor.
Madis reported that the Warwick Valley Gardeners will also dedicate a bench in memory of long time member and volunteer Dorothy Anderson.
During the ceremony, a bouquet of flowers was presented to Kathy Garafalo, who has served as chair of the Railroad Green Committee for the past 10 years.
Finally, everyone was invited to enjoy a special cake baked by Jean-Claudes Artisan Bakery using local fresh strawberries from Ochs Orchard.
By Roger Gavan